Nail and tack driving device



April 20, 1937. E. L. DAY

NAIL AND TACK DRIVING DEVICE Original Filed April 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lilli-01 1! QQQQE v n a 9 Fl an slaw N R O T m V m M D L W W D E I l lwkwl musuu 5 I?! Maw ATTORNEYS April 20, 1937. DAY 2,078,064

NAIL AND TACK DRIVING DEVICE Original Filed April '7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWIN LD A INVENTOR.

BY MM 0 MSW ATTORNEY$ i aiented Apr. 2Q, .Wd?

PATENT OFFICE NAIL AND TACK DRIVING DEVICE Edwin Lee Day, Houston, Tex.

Application April 7, 1932, Serial No. 603,697 Renewed April 20, 1936 8 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for deliveringand driving tacks and the like. The device is designed for electrical operation although it may be otherwise operated. 1

It is an object of the invention to provide a device for driving tacks and the like at the desired point quickly and accurately.

I aim to 'provide a, device for placing the tacks in positions not easily accessible with the usual m method of driving with a hammer, and driving them mechanically into position.

Another'object is to provide a tack driver which will deliver and drive the tacks in any position, either vertical or horizontal or intermediate po- 5 sitions.

I desire to provide a device which is light in weight and of a shape to be easily handled and operated and portable to the place where it is to be used.

. In the drawings herewith I have illustrated a device adapted particularly for driving tacks, it being understood, however, that nails, staples and the like can also be driven by my device with slight modification in the shape of the delivering mechanism.

Fig. 1 is a side view mostly in central longitudinal section showing my assembly apparatus with a tack in position for driving.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a strip of tape with 30 tacks therein.

Fig. 3 is a similar side view in section longitudinally of the tape.

Fig. 4 is a broken section taken on the plane A-A of Fig. 1.

5 Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the plane 0-0 of Fi 1.

Fig. 6 is a similar section taken on the plane 3-13 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow.

40 Fig. '7 is a broken section detail of the tack feeding element.

Fig. 8 is a broken transverse section on the plane C--C of Fig. 1 with the parts in position, different from that shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the tack i eding element showing a tack in position.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the forward end of the device.

- Fig. 11 is a similar view from the opposite side of the device.

Fig. 12 is a view like Fig. 11, but showing the parts in different position.

Figs. 13 and 14 are both broken sections on the 55 plane D-D of Fig. 11 longitudinally of the tack holding mechanism illustrating the parts in different position for driving the tack.

Fig. 15 is a broken sectional view of the plane E-E of Fig. 1.

The general shape of my tack driving device 5 is something like that of an automatic pistol. There is a handle portion l which is preferably cylindrical in shape, one end of which is connected at 2 to the housing 3 of the motor. The shaft 4 of said motor extends axially through the cylinl0 drical housing I. At the end of the housing opposite to the motor, the housing is closed by an end plug 5 which furnishes a support within a recess 6 for the shaft 4 of the motor.

Within the end of the housing adjacent the 15 motor is a sleeve 7 which is connected to the housingby screws 8 and to the motor housing by means of screws 9. Adjacent to this connecting sleeve is a bearing member l0 secured rigidly to the housing and having a support for the shaft 2 4. A similar bearing support is spaced from the forward end at H.

Between these two supports, upon the shaft 4.

' is a cylindrical block l2 which forms a fiy-wheel upon the shaft, balancing it in operation and tending to steady the rotation of the shaft. The fly-wheel is connected to the shaft by meansof a transverse pin indicated in'the dotted lines at l3. Adjacent the bearing block 5 the shaft is formed with a cam-shaped enlargement l4 thereon which is adapted to contact with the head l5 upon the hammer shaft I6. The cam l4 ishoused within a cylindrical block l1. As will be seen from Fig. 4 the block I! is recessed at l8 toreceive the head I5 of the hammer shaft, and it will be noted that there is a clearance shown at [9 allowing the cam l4 upon the shaft to rotate without contact with the block. The cam is, however, adapted to engage and strike a short blow upon the head l5 at each rotation, when 40 the head is moved into engagement therewith.

The hammer shaft l6 extends at right angles to the shaft 4 of the motor, and projects axially of the cylindrical housing 20 secured at right angles to the housing I and extending downwardly therefrom. Within the housing 20 is a bearing block 2| which is secured rigidly within the housing by means of set screws 22. This block affords a bearing or guide for the upper end of the ham- 5o mer shaft. The hammer shaft has a spring 23 thereon bearing at one end upon the bearing block 2|, and at the other upon a ring 24 secured adjustably to the hammer shaft by the set screw 25.

slidabiy within a similar ring 28, also secured rigidly to the housing. The barrel has thereon an outer collar 29 fixed to the barrel and adaptedto limit the relative downward movement of the barrel in the housing. It also furnishes a support for a compression spring 36 which bears between the collar 29 and the bearing sleeve 21, tending .to hold the barrel downwardly relative to the housing.

The barrel 26 extends downwardly beyond the housing and its lower end is tapered inwardly at 3| and connects with a plate 32 which partially closes the end thereof leaving an opening 33 for the ejection of the tack.

The tacks are fed into position adjacent the lower end of the hammer 34 upon the end of the hammer shaft. The tacks are mounted, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, upon a strip of tape 35. This tape is preferably formed as shown in Fig. 2, with a slightly enlarged portion 35 to receive the tack connected to the next adjacent enlarged portion by a narrower strip 36. The tape,

with the tacks thus fixed in position therein, is

wound in a spiral coil within a magazine 31. The end of the tape at the forward side is carried in beneath the hammer adjacent the lower end of the barrel. The mechanism by which tacks are fed:will be later described. The magazine 31 is secured to an irregular shaped connecting block 38 which is in turn connected with the lower end of the barrel 26. The forward side of the block 38 is formed with a dovetailed key 39 shown best in Fig. 6. It interfits slidably with a key-way 46 formed in a bar 4| secured on the rearward side of the housing 26. This bar with the key-way therein is movable downwardly against the action of the spring 30 as will be later described. The bar 4! is formed rigidly upon the barrel 26 and moves downward therewith in the operation of the device.

Within the barrel 26 is .a chuck .which furnishes a guide for the hammer and also receives the tacks as they are fed forward beneath the hammer. This chuck is cylindrical in general outline as shown at 42 in Fig. 6. It has its outer side formed with three spaced notches 43 within which are housed the spring arms 45. .These three arms, as will be noted from Fig. 6, are on the side away from the magazine. The notches, or grooves, 64 are deepened downwardly as shown in Fig. 1, and the lower ends of the arms therein are connected with jaws 65, ll, or 68 of the chuck.

There are three of these jaws, the forward one away from the magazine. is shown in section in Fig. 1. It tapers downwardly-on its outer surface, and its inner surface is formed with a tack receiving recess 66. The two side jaws ill and 58, as seen in Figs. 8 and '13 are adapted to engage the tack on opposite sides. The jaw 63 has a tapered notch therein to receive the tack, while the jaw 46 is recessed slightly on its .inner side to push the tack into the recess is in the jaw 37 of the chuck. These three jaws are held resiliently toward each other by the springs 66 previously noted. The springs 66 are flexed easily outwardly to allow the tacks to enter between them and also to allow the hammer to engage the tack, as seen in Fig. 14. The ta'ck is delivered from the magazine to the chuck by means of a sliding bar56. This bar is seen best in Figs. and 8. It is of angular shape, having one end offset slightly-to one side -of the channel 5| through which the tacks are I the bar is retracted to engage a new tack, the

beveled surface will come into contact with the tack and the bar will be moved away therefrom in an obvious manner. To allow this movement of the bar in the housing, it is recessed slightly at 55 on the side opposite the tack receiving notch.

The bar 561s reciprocated to move one tack after the other beneath the hammer by a trigger mechanism shown best in Figs. 11 and 12. As

will be noted, this tack feeding bar 56 is slidable transversely of the barrel 2 6. It has between its ends a laterally projecting pin 9| to interfit with a slotted opening 52 in a bellcrank lever 53. This lever is pivoted upon a pin 54 on the side of the magazine adjacent the barrel. The lower arm .55 of the lever is held rearwardly to move the tack feeding device away from the hammer by means of a spring 56. Any type of spring might be used for this purpose. I have shown a small leaf spring mounted at oneend upon a .pin 51 and bearing against a fulcrum 58 and connected at its opposite end by means of a link 59 with the arm 55 of the lever. The other arm 53 of the bell crank lever is notched at 66 to engage with a plate 6! slidable longitudinally of the housing 26.

The plate 6| is movable within a channel 62 formed at the side of the housing 26 and is connected by means of a flat spring member GM with a rod 63. The end of the spring member is bent at right angles as shown at 64 and formed with an opening to receive the end of the rod 63 which is slidable through said opening. A collar 65 formed on the end of the rod 63 engages with the hooked end of the spring 65 as will be obvious. There is a spring 66 connected at one end to an opening in the rod 63 and which'bears at its other end against the end 64 of the spring 62. It will be noted particularly from Fig. 11 that this connection between the rod 63 and the sliding plate or bar 6| allows the bar 6| a slight lateral movement in operation. There is also a resilient play between the operating rod 63 and be moved inwardly to depress the rod 63 by a spring 116 housed within a support H on the side of the upper housing.

The lower end of the bar or plate 6| is held resiliently toward the arm 53 of the bell crank lever by means of a spring l2 mounted at 73- upon a pin projecting from the side of the housing. There is a finger 13 formed on' the inner side of the arm 55 of the bell crank lever which is intended to engage with the rounded end 14 of, the bar 6! and move it against the spring 12 and out of engagement with the arm 53 at the lever. The bar is recessed at 15 to interlock with the notched end 60 of the lever so as to hold the parts in engaged position- With reference particularly to Figs. 8 and 10 it will be seen that I have formed a sliding plate H on the side of the tack feeding channel 5! opposite the feeding bar 50. This plate 11 has a laterally projecting finger 18 by means of which the plate ll may be manually moved. The forward end of the plate 11 is oil-set from the plate and is formed with a notch 19 therein to engage with the adjacent tack which is being fed toward the hammer. This plate is held normally away from the barrel 26 by means of the springv ID on the outer side of the housing. This spring is fitted within an eyelet 8| in the side of the plate but allows the plate to be moved toward the barrel by means of the finger E8 to engage a tack and move it toward the hammer. This device is for use in moving tacks into position when it is not desired to operate the hammer;

The operation of the device will now be explained. With reference to Figs. 11 and 12 it will be seen that a pull upon the trigger 68 will move the sliding bar 6| away from the bell crank lever 53 and will throw the lower end of said lever toward theright and move the tack feeding bar 56 toward the hammer and slide a tack into position beneath the hammer. As will be noted from Fig. 6, the hammer it is formed with a'lateral key or knife member 32 at the inner side'thereof, which, when the hammer is depressed, will engage the tape and sever the forward end of the tape together with the foremost tack from the tape and allow the hammer to move the tack downwardly between the arms of the chuck. As the tack is fed toward the arms it moves into a converging notch or groove and forces the two lateral arms 61 and id aside to allow the tack to be received within the notch til as previously noted. The springs holding the arms to, all and ill exerts a small enough force so that they are easily moved laterally in operation.

When the tack is in position below the hammer the motor is started and will be left continually running during the operation of the device. The rotation of the shaft of the. motor will bring the earn it thereon into contact with the head it of the hammer and strike a succession of rapid blows thereon. The hammer head is held out of contact with the cam by the spring 23. When the tack is ready to be driven, the point of the barrel it is positioned where the tack is to be driven and a straight downward push is exerted upon the housing 6 as a handle, thus moving the outer housing til downwardly in a telescoping action over the barrel lit. In Fig. l. the movement of the housing over the barrel is indicated in dotted lines, and it will be seen that when the housing has been telescoped over the barrel the lower end of the barrel and the plate ti will engage against a shoulder indicated at lid which limits the downward movement of the housing. This downward movement of the parts will bring the hammer into contact with the tack and the head of the hammer will be pushed into engagement with the rotating cam ill on the motor shaft. A series of rapid blows will thus be delivered by the cam upon the hammer and. as the telescoping action continues the tack will be driven into the material. This will be done very rapidly, due to the rapidity of the'hlows of the cam upon the ham mer so that the driving of the tack will take only as long as is necessary to shove the housing downwardly to contact with the shoulder id as previourl noted.

With ence now to Figs. iii. and i2. Vll'hen is pulled upwardly from the posi- -in its neat and compact arrangement.

said cam, menus-lily operated in and the pin 13 on the lever will engage against the rounded end 14 of the sliding bar and push it away from the notch 60 in the bell crank lever and allow the spring 66 adjacent the trigger to push the sliding bar 6| back into retracted position. Then, when the housing is telescoped downwardly to move the hammer against the tack, the sliding bar 6| will be also moved downwardly, the lower end thereof pushing past the end of the arm 53 of the bell crank lever and the parts will again be automatically latched in position as shown in Fig. 12 ready to feed another tack manually by the operator by actuating the trigger 68 beneath the hammer as previously described.

As will be seen particularly from Figs. 13 and 14, a movement 01' the hammer downwardly pushing the tack between the jaws 45, 41 and 48 will move the jaws of the chuck laterally and the hammer will advance into the position shown in Fig. 4 with the jaws of the chuck pressing resiliently against the hammer but not interfering in any way with the driving of the tack. When the tack has been completely driven into position the lift of the operator upon the handle i will allow the housing and the hammer 2!? to be moved upwardly through the action of the spring ill, thus placing the parts in position to repeat the operation.

It will be seen that all that is necessary to drive the tack after it has been fed into position will be to push straight toward the point where the tack is to be driven, placing the forward end with the opening it directly over the point where the tack is to be driven and then push directly toward that point. It will make no difierencc whether this is in a horizontal or upward direction, and as the motor is continuously running, as soon as the housing is compressed by telescoping the housing over the barrel, the hammer will line mediately come in contact with the head of the tack and will be pushed into contact also with the cam. on the motor shaft and the driving of the tack will commence. As the reciprocation of the hammer is exceedingly rapid, the tack will be driven almost instantly. The knife at the side of the hammer indicated at 8'2 in the drawing, will sever the tape upon which the tack is mounted and leave the tack with a small washer or tape beneath the head of the tack as it is driven. 'liflis will protect the material from contact with the head of the tack and will he an additional advantage of the manner in which the tacks are mounted.

The vantage of nor invention lies largely The motor is very small and light and the device can be moved readily from place to place without tlr= ing the operator, and the tacks will he automatically delivered into position and driven at the point desired, with very slight eiiort on the part oi the operator. The advantages of thisconstrum tion will be apparent. Tacks may be driven intootherwise inaccessible places, either on the door, wall, or ceiling oi a room, or upon upholstery in positions where a tack can not be otherwise easily able housing, said housing forming handle hy means of which said device is moved to tech driving position, a motor thereon, a cam on the shaft of said motor within said housing, a its-m iner aha-lit adapted to be moved into more Til run into. position to be engaged by said hamm'er shaft including a trigger adjacent said h'andie, a slide banand means operativelyengaging said trigger and'slide bar, and a chuck to hold each of said tacksjwhileit is being driven bysaid hammershaft.

2. A tack-driving device including'a light 'portable motor, a rotating shaft thereon, a housing, for said shaft acting as a handle, a hammer shaftextending perpendicularly from said housing, a hammer housing about said'hammer shaft,

' a hammer barrel 'slidable in said hammer housshaft.

3. A tack-driving device including a lightportable electric motor, a rotating shaft thereon, a housing for said shaft acting as a handle, a

hammer shaft extending perpendicularly from said housing, a hammer housing about said shaft,

a hammer barrel slidable in said hammer housing, a chuck below said barrel, manually operated means to feed tacks below said hammer to said chuck, and means on said motor shaft adapted to strike a succession of blows upon said hammer shaft when said hammer housing is moved forwardly over said barrel.

4. A tack-driving device including an electric motor having a shaft, a housing for said shaft forming a handle, a hammer shaft extending at right angles to said housing, means on said motor shaft to strike a continuous series of blows upon said hammer shaft, a tack magazine, a longitudinally extensible housing for said hammer shaft, said motor shaft being moved into contact with said hammer shaft when said housing is contracted longitudinally, and manually controlled means to feed tacks from said mega-- zine to a point below said hammer shaft.

5. A tank-driving device including a motor having a shaft, a hammer shaft at right angles to said motor shaft, a spring normally holding said hammer shaft away from said motor shaft,

means on said motor shaft to engage and strike blows upon said hammer shaft, a tack magazine, means to feed tacks from said magazine to a .point below said hammer shaft, and a-housing for said hammer shaft adapted to be engaged against the work and moved to bring said hammer shaft into working. contact with said striking means.

6. A tack-driving device including a motor having a shaft, a hammer shaft at right angles to said motor shaft, 9. springnormaliy holding 'said hammer shaft away from said motor shaft,

means on said motor shaft to engage and strike blows upon said hammer shaft, a tack magawork.

'7. A light portable tack-driving device including an electric motor, a motor shaft housing forming a handle, a hammer housing extending perpendicularly therefrom, a hammer operable by means on the shaft of said motor, a magazine to contain tacks, a slidable bar adjacent said magazine, and means manually operable from a point adjacent said handle to move said feed her to feed tacks from said magazine into position to be engaged by said hammer.

8. A tack-driving device including a light portable housing, said housing forming a handle by means of which said device is moved to tack driving position, a motor thereon, a cam on the shaft of said motor within said housing, a hammer shaft normally spaced from said cam but adapted to be moved into contact with said cam, means adjacent said handle and manually operable to move tacks into position to be engaged by said hammer, and a chuck to hold each of said tacks while it is being driven by said hammer.

'EDWIN LEE DAY. 

